Safe Blood Transfusion Program sees little ground work in 10 years

15 million Euros received in aid

Islamabad-The ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has turned a blind eye towards the performance of Safe Blood Transfusion Program (SBTP), which despite receiving millions in foreign aid in the last ten years has provided least to the public health, The Nation learned on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Safe Blood Transfusion Program held the inauguration ceremony of the Islamabad’s blood center in a five star hotel, where the ex-minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was invited.

Official informed that the same authority is responsible for blood regulation system in the federal capital with the different name of Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA), but no productive role of the authority has been observed in enhancing the blood banks of the public sector hospitals of the city which have a large influx of patients.

No major initiative for public health safety has been taken including installation of blood screening system, providing technical assistance, training of staff or provision of blood of the modern equipments to the public hospitals, said official.

The official said that the authority was mandated for establishing as well as up-gradation of the blood banks of the public sector hospital but it has done nothing.

“The patients’ sufferings have not reduced when blood is required in the hospital and they are asked to arrange the blood by themselves by hospital administrations, “said the official.

Official said that the authority has confined its role up-to some administrative affairs of check and balance in the blood banks but has contributed nothing to enhance the capacity of the blood banks.

The statement released by Safe Blood Transfusion Program said that the program despite challenges successfully completed the implementation of the first phase of the project in which a nationwide infrastructure was created consisting of construction and equipping of a network of 10 modern Regional Blood Centres, and renovating and refurbishing 60 existing hospital blood banks.

It is estimated that after the completion of the Phase II of the project in 2019, about 35% coverage of the national service delivery will be through the new system, said the statement.

Program manager SBTP Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer briefed the minister for NHS Aamer Mahmood Kiani, about the working of the Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA).

As a result of the efforts of the IBTA, the blood regulation has been streamlined in the federal capital. Currently, 18 public and private sector blood banks have been granted licenses, 5 are registered and five have been closed down due to poor standards, the minister was told.

The statement released by NHS said that minister Aamer Mahmood Kiani, was briefed on the implementation of the German government funded SBTP and the regulation of the blood transfusion sector by Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer, National Coordinator SBTP and Chairman, IBTA.

The minister underscored the significance of the preventive aspect in healthcare especially blood transfusion and promised full support of the new government for strengthening the blood transfusion system in the country, statement said.